14.07.2022 by Christina Strunz

60 Years of NETZSCH-Geraetebau: Saving Energy with the HFM Eco-Line

Since the acquisition of Holometrix in 2001, the Heat Flow Meter series has been developed in several steps. The latest innovation of the HFM 446 – Eco-line –  was successfully launched in 2021 and measures up to 40% faster.

Along with an improved firmware and an extended software package, the new HFM comes with a variety of new features. At the same time, great importance has been placed in the development of the ecological footprint, that is why it bears the name HFM 446 Lambda Eco-line.

Figure: The HFM 446 Lambda Eco-line

The term “Eco” should be seen in a multi-dimensional way, as the instrument series itself has been improved for lower energy consumption during measurements. With the new range of heat flow meters, NETZSCH has set an industry standard for the analysis of the thermal performance of low-conductivity insulating materials such as glass or rock wool and expanded or extruded polystyrene. This has been the basis for developing and testing materials precisely for a wide range of applications in a much more environmentally friendly way.

But how does it work? The HFM (Heat Flow Meter) determines thermal resistance and Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity, taking the sample thickness into account. The Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity describes the heat flow through a material. The lower the Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity, the better the insulating performance of a material. The improved insulation performance of building envelopes leads to lower energy consumption for heating or cooling, which is crucial these day ‒ including the severe shortage of fossil fuels.

Main Features of the HFM 446 Lambda Eco–Line at a Glance

Significant reduction of the measurement time
Since the introduction of the new HFM 446 Eco-Line, measurements can be performed up to 40% faster whilst maintaining accuracy of the measurement result. This time saving clearly results in lower energy consumption and enables higher efficiency by increased sample throughput (see Figure 2).

Eco mode for additional energy saving
Additional energy saving is achieved by the Idle/Eco mode, which allows for a definable week schedule according to the users’ needs. In Idle state, the HFM plates are held at a predefined temperature allowing for a fast  measurement start. In Eco mode, however, the thermostat and temperature control of the plates are switched off, achieving an energy consumption of almost zero.

Further improvements:
The HFM 446 Eco-Line also comes with several performance improvements: Enhanced stability criteria management and more extensive calibrations allow for higher accuracy. The “drive-to-thickness” feature makes it much easier to achieve precise measurements on compressible samples. Moreover, an increased number of possible measurement points allows for higher efficiency. In addition, the new software, with intuitive user interface along with the intelligent notifications in SmartMode, allow for better information and support when working with the NETZSCH HFM 446 instrument series. All existing HFM 446 instruments can easily be upgrated to the new Eco-Line.

Please find more information on our website: HFM 446 Lambda Eco-Line – Heat Flow Meter (HFM) / Guarded Hot Plate/Pipe (GHP) / HotBox Test Chambers (TDW) – Products – NETZSCH Analyzing & Testing

Watch also our latest webinar “Efficient determination of Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity on insulation materials”:

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